A Worthwhile Cause

So I'm taking a break from my writing "work" today and thinking about knitting.

Okay, I admit--I do that a lot. I have a list of projects in my head and I keep adding to it; maybe if I didn't need to sleep and/or had three sets of hands to knit while I clean, write, etc., I could get it all done. ;)

I wanted to take a picture of what I've been working on, but it's not done yet. And then I realized...what I've done most recently that I'm the most proud of has no way to be photographed.

Several years ago, Mark and I came across a local story on the news in which a private citizen was teaching inmates in the federal penitentiary around us how to knit and crochet. "Whoa," you might say. "What are prison inmates doing with needles and hooks? Isn't that dangerous?" This particular program is used as an incentive/reward system for women who are low-risk and who have proved themselves as model prisoners. It's not for everyone in the general prison population.

These inmates are taught the basics of the crafts and then create blankets, hats, booties, etc. for babies born in local hospitals who are either preemies or who are born with problems such as drug addiction, from addicted moms who gave birth to them. They work with what they have, and they are not only learning a skill, but learning to think of the needs of others (specifically, the smallest and most vulnerable among us). The altruism they learn and the ability to put other's needs and concerns in front of their own is remarkable--and to my mind, the entire point of trying to rehabilitate prisoners. These are women who have made poor choices in their lives and are now paying for them--but they are learning another way.

So Mark and I went through our home and gathered up "yarn extras." You know, when a pattern calls for an odd-number of ounces for a project and you have the majority (or even a fraction) of a skein leftover? It wouldn't be a big deal if it were a no-dye-lot yarn, but nearly no yarn these days is a no-dye-lot product.

The first time we donated yarn to this person, we gathered up 2 kitchen garbage bags full. This was even before I started knitting and it was just Mark's crochet-stuff! This time, we collected one garbage bag full, but I also put the APB out on my local FreeCycle list for leftovers. I went and got them from people, but felt so good about doing it that I didn't mind the extra time or gas spent.

I can't think of a better way to declutter extra yarn from projects (and our houses at the same time)--or a better cause. If you have yarn you think these prisoners might be able to use, please email me. I'll give you a place to send the yarn and get it to the person who's running this program/ministry. They always need yarn, and are so grateful for whatever they can get their hands on. :)

'Til next time...and another finished project! :)